Several Catholic buildings in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia have recently installed solar panel arrays, as part of a diocesan-wide project to reduce energy costs.

At least seven solar energy projects have been completed or are being planned within the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, and it all started with the solar array at Immaculate Conception Church in Roanoke. The projects include Catholic churches, schools and nursing facilities across most of Virginia, The Roanoke Times reports.

The Diocese of Richmond is partnering with Catholic Energies, a service of the nonprofit Catholic Climate Covenant based in Washington, D.C. In 2017, Catholic Energies introduced a national solar energy program involving the partnership of 19 Catholic institutions. Solar panel arrays have been installed on the roof of Roanoke Catholic High School, and at the Church of St. Therese in Chesapeake.

Upcoming construction projects in Virginia spearheaded by Catholic Energies include solar power installations at the Diocese of Richmond Pastoral Center in Henrico County and at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School on Woodman Road in Richmond.

The rooftop array at the Pastoral Center should generate about 317,000 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually.  This project will also include the installation of LED lighting at the center. Together, the solar panels and LED lights should offset 84% of the Pastoral Center’s annual historical energy requirement.

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